From a new car to new shoes to new hearing aids, it takes time to adjust to newness. So, if you have been experiencing issues with hearing loss and have decided it’s time to be fitted for hearing aids, there’s no doubt that you have a lot of questions. After years of being fine, being able to have a conversation with your family or coworkers without having to constantly ask “what?” all the time, and then needing to put on hearing aids each morning, this can be incredibly frustrating. But with the team of audiologists at Platinum Hearing Aids, you can be confident that you’re getting doctors who are experienced and knowledgeable. When you schedule an appointment with us, there’s no need to worry about asking the wrong questions, because if you are concerned about something, so are we.  

Here are some of the most common questions we get when we fit someone with hearing aids for the first time.

Are They Difficult to Maintain?

  Overall, hearing aids are not too difficult to maintain; however, there are a few things that everyone should be aware of:

• Place the aids back in their case when you’re not wearing them. The aids are often very small and can be easy to lose.
• To help the batteries last as long as possible, open the battery door at night.
• The most important thing you can do to maintain your hearing aids is to clean them often. A buildup of moisture and earwax are the biggest reasons for hearing aid repairs, so using a cleaning and drying kit will help kill germs and bacteria and remove moisture.

What is an Ear Impression?

Platinum Hearing Aids wants to ensure that your aids are as comfortable as possible. So to ensure a comfortable fit, we create an ear impression, which is made from a silicon-based material. The material is placed into your ear and sits there for a few minutes while it hardens to the shape of your ear. With an impression of the exact shape of your ear or ear canal, in-the-ear, completely-in-the-canal, or custom-fit hearing aids will have a more natural feel.  

How Long Do Hearing Aids Last?

When your hearing aids are taken care of correctly and are maintained frequently, the devices can last between three and five years. If you ever notice a change in how they fit or if you notice that they aren’t working as well as before, schedule an appointment with an audiologist. You may need to be refitted or your hearing may have changed enough so that you need new aids.

How Long Does it Take to Adjust?

Each person is different, so the time it takes to adjust to wearing the hearing aids will vary, especially depending on the severity of the hearing loss. Adjusting to hearing aids isn’t just about the feel of them in your, but also about training and adjusting your brain. When someone develops hearing loss, the auditory cortex of the brain adjusts, which translates noise into recognizable sound. When hearing aids are introduced, it takes time for the brain to adjust to the level of noise it’s receiving. Again, if you have any questions about your new hearing aids, don’t hesitate to ask your audiologist. Platinum Hearing Aids provides quality service to the Detroit area. We have two locations, in Allen Park and Southfield, and we look forward to helping you improve your hearing.